Yarn control mechanism



Jam, 31, 1%? w. H. BANKS ETAL YARN CONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 13, 1965 INVENTORS WALD!) HBANKS.

BY LOUlS PHlLlP HUTi-HER QM 61W A TTORNE Y 1967 w. H. BANKS ETAL YARNCONTROL MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 13, 1965 INVENTORS WALDOHBANKS. BY LOUIS PHILIP RUTHIER.

QM? QM? A TTORNE Y Jan. 31, 1967 w. H. BANKS ETAL YARN CONTROL MECHANISM4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 13, 1965 INVENTORS A TTORNE Y .Fan. 31, 1967w. H. BANKS ETAL. 3, v

YARN CONTROL MECHANISM 1 Filed May 13, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE YUnited States Patent 3,300,960 YARN CUNTR-QL MECHANISM Waldo H. Banks,20 Prospect St., and Louis Philip Authier, 14 Park St, both of Hopedale,Mass. 01747 Filed May 13, 1965. Ser. No. 455,424 7 Claims. (Cl. 57-53)The present invention relates to a mechanism for removing full bobbinsfrom spindles of spinning frames, twisters, or the like and, moreparticularly, to a means for cutting the ends of yarn or strand materialextending from the bobbins.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a means adapted tocooperate with a bobbin dofiing mech anism to cut the ends of the strandmaterial which extend from the package wound upon a bobbin.

A further and more specific object is to provide such a means which willcut the strand ends extending from a bobbin prior to its being actedupon by the mechanism for removing it from its respective spindle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following more detailed disclosure.

The present invention is applicable to a doffing and donning machinewhich is in the form of a wheeled carriage that is adapted to be mountedby means of rollers on the rail of a spinning frame. This carriage ismovable along the rail in a path parallel to the row of spindlessupported by the spinning frame and by means of a dofiing unit carriedby the carriage, newly wound bobbins are dofifed from their respectivespindles and guided into a receptacle adapted for that purpose.

A filling or yarn package on a bobbin is wound to a predetermined sizeand as is well known to those familiar with the art, the final wind ofyarn is carried rapidly downwardly from the upper portion of the packageforming somewhat of a helix wind about the package and as it leaves thebobbin the filling thread is wrapped about the base of the spindle whereit is held in preparation for the next bobbin. The length of yarn whichis carried upwardly to initiate the winding of a new package forms onelength of filling which must be severed and the final wind describedabove forms the second.

With the finer counts of yarn there is no problem in severing the endsof the yarn for as each bobbin is lifted from its respective spindle thetension to which these ends are subjected causes them to break.

When building a filling package on bobbins with what is considered acoarse count yarn, a means must be provided to sever the ends of theyarn in a positive manner.

Patent application Serial No. 444,262 filed March 31, 1965 discloses ayarn severing mechanism adapted to function in cooperation with adoffing and donning machine of the type to which the instant inventionis applicable. That mechanism parts the ends of yarn extending from thebobbin package to the base of the spindle by clamping the yarn wound onthe base of said spindle and at the same time causing rotation of thebobbin. This action subjects the ends of yarn to a sufiicient amount oftension to cause breakage thereof. This means of severing the ends ofyarn performs its intended function satisfactorily; however, it has itslimitations with respect to the coarseness of the yarn it is capable ofsevering. Regarding the means for rotating a bobbin on its spindle, theends of yarn must be caused to part within a relatively short distancebefore the doffing unit is caused to act upon the bobbins to remove themfrom their spindles. If an exceptionally coarse count yarn is beingwound upon the bobbins, this rotation of the bobbins is not sufficientto sever the ends of the yarn. The dofiing apparatus is adapted toperform its intended function immediately after the function of the yarnsevering mechanism, and should the yarn ends remain intact, said yarn islikely to be withdrawn from the package during the dofl'ing cycleleaving a trail of yarn from the spindles to the receptacle adapted toreceive the bobbins.

A dofiing and donning machine to which the present invention isapplicable has been disclosed in United' states Patent No. 3,077,725 andattention is hereby drawn to this patent for a more detailed descriptionof the construction and operation of such a machine.

The yarn control mechanism according to the instant invention provides apositive means of cutting the yarn which interconnects a bobbin with itsspindle immediately prior to said bobbins engagement with the dofiingmechanism.

The invention comprises a unit mounted on a carriage which supports thedofiing mechanism and being movable therewith it is so disposed as toperform its function of cutting the ends of yarn in advance of thefunction of said dofiing mechanism. The unit is movable to and fromoperating position and includes a lifting cam which is adapted to raisethe bobbins from a fixed position on the spindles to a rotatableposition thereon. The unit also includes a rotating belt member andpivotably and yieldably mounted cutting blades. The rotating beltmember, when in operating position, is engageable with the yarn packageand is effective in causing rotation of the raised bobbin on itsspindle. The cutting blades being pivotably and yieldably mounted areadapted to follow the contour of the bobbins butt portion as thecarriage moves thereby and as the blades are caused to pivot they are sodisposed that a first blade catches and cuts the end of the yarn leadingto the final wind about the base of the spindle. That end of yarn whichinitiated the building of the package is then caught by the first bladeand as the carriage continues to move the blade members lose contactwith the bobbin butt permitting them to pivot by spring action back totheir initial position. During this movement of the blades back to theirinitial position a second blade cuts that end of yarn which was carriedupwardly from the base of the spindle to commence the building of theyarn package.

The invention will be described in further detail by reference to thespecific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the accompanyingfigures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a dofiing and donningmachine and the yarn control mechanism according to the inventionapplied thereto and in operating position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the yarn controlmechanism tilted upwardly to the nonoperating position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1 showing themeans for effecting rotation of the bobbins;

FIG. 4 is a plan view and partially in section of a portion of the yarncontrol mechanisms driving means as seen looking in the direction of theindicating arrows 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the relation of the mechanismscutting blades to the butt portion of a bobbin on their initial contacttherewith;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but looking from the oppositeside thereof showing the blade members just prior to losing contact withthe bobbin and that end of filling to be cut by the second or upperblade member as the blades return to their initial position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relation of the yarn controlmechanism to the spindles and bobbins and the means by which the ringtraveler is guided away from said mechanism.

3 Referring now to the various figures of drawing, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 showa portion of a doffing and donning machine generally indicated bynumeral having a part of the supporting framework illustrated which isdepicted by numeral 11. I

This machine attaches to the rail of a spinning frame (not shown) and iscaused to roll therealong in a path parallel to the row of spindlessupported by said frame by means of wheel-like members 12 (one onlyshown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). A supporting carriage 13 partially shown inFIGS. 1, 2, and 3 forms a part of the dofling and donning apparatus andis caused to move therewith in the direction of the indicating arrows 14shown in said figures of drawing. Although not shown, this carriage 13supports the bobbin doffing unit which is so disposed as to perform itsintended function immediately after the function of the yarn controlmechanism comprising the instant invention.

This yarn control mechanism is also mounted on the carriage 13 and isdepicted generally in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 by numeral 15 and includes abase portion 16. The base portion 16 is adjustably attached to thecarriage 13 by means of cap screws 17 and 18 the shank portions of whichpass through slots 19 and 20 (FIG. 2) in said base portion and areanchored in aligned threaded holes (not shown) in said carriage.

This adjustable means by which the base portion 16 attaches to thecarriage permits lateral adjustment of the yarn control mechanism towardand away from the bobbins and spindles with which said mechanism isadapted to cooperate. That side of the base portion 16 most remote fromthe spindles and bobbins, hereinafter referred to as the inner side, isprovided with a pair of upwardly directed lug members 21 and 22. Theselug members are disposed in spaced relation and each is provided with anaperture (not shown) adjacent its upper end which are in alignment andare adapted to support a hinge pin 23 (FIG. 2).

A plate-like support bracket 24 overlies the base portion 16 andincludes lug members 25 and 26 (FIG. 2) on the underside thereof andadjacent its inner side. Lug members 25 and 26 are similar to lugs 21and 22 and include aligned apertures (not shown) through which the hingepin 23 is adapted to pass forming a hinged assembly between the baseportion 16 and the support bracket 24. Longitudinal movement of thehinge pin 23 is prevented by any suitable means such as cotter pins 27and 28 assembled in apertures provided for that purpose adjacent eachend thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2 a coil type torsion spring assembles on that portionof the hinge pin 23 which extends between lug members 22 and 25. One endof this spring is formed to engage the forward surface of lug member 22as at 29 and the opposite end thereof is adapted to bear against theunderside of the support bracket 24 as at 30. This spring arrangementprovides a biasing force for continually urging the support bracket 24to the tilted position shown in FIG. 2 and serves to assist the meansfor removing the yarn control mechanism carried by the support bracket24 from operating position.

The means by which this mechanism is moved into and away from operatingposition includes a bifurcated control arm 31 extending from thewheel-like member 12 with a portion of the support bracket 24 extendingbetween the forked portion of said arm as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thewheel-like member 12 as shown in FIG. 3 has flanged sides with thesurface therebetween being of lesser diameter. That portion of thecontrol arm opposite the bifurcated end wraps about that surface oflesser diameter intermediate the flanged sides of the wheel-like member12 forming a loop having a slightly larger inside diameter than thecentral diameter of said wheel. That portion of the control armintermediate the bifurcated end and the so-called loop are joinedtogether by any suitable means such as rivets 32. A resilient ringpossessing frictional 4 qualities such as a rubber ring (not shown)encircles the peripheral extent of that portion of the wheelintermediate the fianged sides and the outer surface of said ring is infrictional contact with the inner surface of the control arms loopedend.

When the wheel is caused to rotate in the direction of the indicatingarrow 33 depicted in FIG. 1, the looped portion of the control arm iscaused to move in a clockwise direction and the bifurcated end of saidarm tilts the support bracket 24 downwardly to place the yarn controlmechanism supported thereby in operating position. To limit the downwardtilting movement of the support bracket 24 and to assure a definiteposition for operation, a vertically disposed stop screw 34 assembliesin the base portion 16 as at 35 and extending upwardly therefrom thehead portion of said screw is caused to contact the underside of saidsupport bracket to maintain the required operating position. This screwmay be raised or lowered to alter the operating position of thesupporting bracket 24.

When the wheel is caused to move in the direction of the indicatingarrow 36 shown in FIG. 2, the frictional contact between the rubber ringand the inner surface of the control arms looped end causes said arm tomove in an anti-clockwise direction which tilts the support bracket 24upwardly and away from operating position.

The upper side of the support bracket 24 is provided with a plurality ofupwardly directed stud members disposed in perpendicular relation tosaid support. Two of these stud members are identified by numerals 37and 38 and extend upwardly from bosses 39 and 40, respectively, whichare integrally formed with and disposed adjacent the outer or forwardside of the support bracket 24. Both the stud members 37 and 38 haverotatable pulley members assembled thereon that are identified generallyby numerals 41 and 42, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 2), and Which areretained thereon by any suitable means such as clips 43 and 44 (FIG. 4).The pulley member on stud member 37 includes three pulley elements whichare identified by numerals 45, 46, and 47 (FIG. 1). The pulley member onstud 38 includes two pulley elements that are depicted by numerals 48and 49. An endless belt member 50 interconnects pulley elements 45 and48 and is effective in causing rotation of a bobbin in a manner to bemore fully described hereinafter.

Although not shown, a second endless belt may be utilized tointereconnect pulley elements 46 and 49 which are in contiguous relationto pulley elements 45 and 48, respectively, and would serve as anadditional means of effecting rotation of the bobbins. Pulley element 47is disposed below and in spaced relation to pulley elements 45 and 46and is rotatable with the latter.

A third pulley member generally indicated by numeral 51 (FIG. 3) havinga pair of pulley elements 52 and 53 (FIGS. 2 and 3) disposed incontiguous relation is rotatably mounted on an upwardly directed studmember 54 and is retained thereon by means of a clip 55.

A second endless belt 55' interconnects pulley element 47 with pulleyelement 53. To clear the bifurcated end of the control arm 31, belt 55',as shown in FIG. 3, is caused to extend about a rotatable sleeve 56.This sleeve 56 is centrally disposed with respect to the support bracket24 and is maintained in a position perpendicular to said bracket bymeans of a bolt 57 and nut 58 (FIGS. 2 and 3). A washer 59 positioneddirectly beneath the head of the bolt 57 provides a flange formaintaining belt 55' in contact with the sleeve 56.

The means by which the various pulley elements and belts are caused tobe driven to perform their intended function will now be described.

A horizontally disposed pulley 60 is mounted for rotary movement by anysuitable means to that portion of the machines framework identified bynumeral 61 in FIG. 3. An endless belt 62 interconnects pulley 60 withpulley element 53 and to clear that portion of the machines verticalframework identified in FIG. 3 by numeral 11, an idler pulley 63 isutilized as shown in FIG. 4. This idler pulley is rotata-bly supportedby a bracket 64 which is attached to the rearward side of the verticalframework 11 by means of a cap screw 65.

The horizontally disposed pulley 60 is positioned in close proximitywith the inner side of the wheel 12 and the outer surface of the endlessbelt 62 on said pulley makes frictional contact with the side of saidWheel 12.

When the machine is moved in the direction of the indicating arrow 14,wheel 12 rotates in a clockwise direction and belt 62 being infrictional contact therewith causes pulley 60 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction. This motion moves belt 62 in the directionof the indicating arrows 66 in FIG. 3 causing counterclockwise rotationof pulley member 51. Movement of pulley member 51 in a counterclockwisedirection moves belt 55 in the direction of the indicating arrow 67shown in FIG. 3 and being interconnected with pulley member 41, ittransmits this rotary motion to pulley element 45 resulting in theendless belt member 50 being caused to move in the direction of theindicating arrow 68 shown in FIG. 3.

The means by which bobbins are caused to be rotated by the endless belt54) and to have the ends of the yarn cut extending from the packagewound thereon will now be described.

The underside of the support bracket 24 is provided adjacent its forwardedge with and integrally formed platelike projection 69 (FIG. 2) whichserves as a mounting means for a bobbin raising cam 70. Cam 70 isattached to the projection 69 by any suitable means such as cap screws71. When the support bracket 24 is in that position shown in FIG. 1, thebobbin raising cam is adapted to move beneath and to contact the buttportion of a bobbin 72 to break the holdbetween said bobbin and itsrespective spindle 73.

As the machine is advanced along the rail of the spinning frame thebobbins contacted by the cam 70 are caused to ride up on said camsinclined surface 74.

A double armed lever generally indicated by numeral 75 (FIG. 2) ispivotably mounted to the underside of the support bracket 24 as at 76with the first arm 77 thereof being directed in a generally rearwarddirection. The second arm of this lever is identified by numeral 78 andextends in a generally forward direction. A coil spring 79 has one endthereof attached to the tip of the first arm 77 as at 80 and theopposite end is attached to the shank portion of a bolt member 81depending from the underside of the support bracket 24 as as 82 (FIG.2). Spring 79 is continually urging lever 75 in a clockwise direction asseen looking at the underside of the support bracket 24 in FIG. 2. Tolimit the pivotal movement of this lever 75 in a clockwise direction, agenerally L-shaped stop member 83 (FIG. 2) attaches to the underside ofthe support bracket 24 by means of a cap screw 84 and is so disposedthat the second arm 78 of said lever is caused to bear against said stopmember.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second arm 78 of the double armed lever 75 isprovided with an arm extension 85 which is adjustably attached to saidsecond arm by means of cap screw 86. The shank portions of these capscrews 86 pass through a slot 87 in th arm extension and provide a meansof longitudinal adjustment for said arm extension. The forward or outerend portion of this arm extension 85 is reduced in width as at 88 and isadapted to contact that portion of the spindles below the bobbins andwill be more fully described hereinafter.

A pair of arcuated cutting blades 89 and 90 are disposed in overlyingrelation to the arm extension 85. These blades as shown in the variousfigures of drawing are fixedly positioned relative to each other inopposed relation with one thereof being superimposed above the other.

A generally L-shaped blade bracket 91 is slidably mounted on the armextension 85 by means of a first leg thereof being wrapped about saidarm extension. The

second leg of the blade bracket extends in an upwardly direction andserves to support the blade members 89 and by means of a bolt 91 inoverlying and spaced relation to the arm extension 85. A spring 92having one end thereof attached to the first leg of the blade bracket asat 93 (FIG. 2) and the opposite end being attached to the arm extension85 as at 94 serves as a means for continually urging the blade memberstoward the forward or outer end of the arm extension.

In operation, the mechanism is in that position shown in FIG. 1 and assaid mechanism is caused to move along a path parallel to the row ofspindles, the bobbin raising cam 70 moves beneath the butts of thebobbins carried on said spindles to break the hold between thesemembers.

A relatively stiff but flexible arm member 95 is attached to the loweredge of the plate-like projection 69 by means of a screw 96 andextending obliquely forward therefrom it is so disposed as to makecontact with the upper surface of the spinning rings 96, as shown inFIG. 7. Should the ring traveler 97 and yarn 98 which is guided therebybe in a position to be contacted by this arm said traveler and yarn willbe moved as shownin FIG. 7 to prevent any possible interference with thecontrol mechanism as it moves thereby.

Continued movement of the mechanism forces the bobbin upwardly with theedge of the butt portion riding on the inclined surface 74 of the cam70. When a bobbin has reached the limit of its travel on the inclinedcamming surface, it is then received onto the upper surface of the armextension 85. At this time the yarn package on the bobbin makes contactwith the rotating endless belt 50 and the frictional contact betweenthese members causes said bobbin to rotate in a clockwise direction asseen looking from the top thereof.

The outer end portion of the arm extension identified by numeral 88 atthis time is in contact with that portion of the spindle beneath thebutt of the bobbin. As the mechanism continues to advance, the armextension is caused to pivot away from the stop-member 83 moving theblade members 89 and 98 therewith. The blade members are adapted tofollow the contour of the bobbin butt on that surface intermediate therings thereof and as the butt continues to rotate the tip of blade 90which is identified in FIG. 5 by numeral 99 hooks onto that end of yarnfrom the final wind and severs the same. Continued rotation of thebobbin causes that end of yarn forming the initial wind to be capturedbetween the blade members as shown in FIG. 6.

At this point, the mechanism has advanced to a position where the armextension will lose contact with the spindle and by the retraction ofspring 79 said extension will return to its initial position against thestop member 83. This return movement of the arm extension causes blademember 89 to cut that end of yarn leading to the initial wind on thebobbin.

To maintain the desired contact between the rotating belt 50 and theyarn package as the mechanism moves along the rail of the spinningframe, a backing plat 100 which is fixedly attached to the supportbracket 24 by means of a bolt 101 extends upwardly between the pulleyelements 45 and 48. The upper and forward surface of this backing plateis covered with a sheet material 102 having anti-frictional qualitiesagainst which the inner surface of the belt 50 is caused to makecontact. This backing plate does not permit the belt 50 to flex inwardlybetween the pulley element and is effective in causing said belt tomaintain an even pressure on the yarn package while it is in contacttherewith.

Positive cutting of the yarn ends in this manner permits the dofiingmechanism to remove the bobbins from their respective spindles withoutwithdrawing a portion of the yarn from the package all as heretoforedescribed.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be'understood that the inventive concept 7 may be carried out in a numberof Ways. This invention is, therefor, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A yarn control mechanism adapted to cut the ends of strand materialwound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machinewhich comprises:

(a) a carriage with means for mounting the latter on said machine tomove along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising cam movable with said carriage to raise saidbobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable positionthereon,

(c) a cutting means for parting the ends of said strand material, and

(d) means for effecting rotation of said bobbins in order to place saidends of strand material in said cutting means.

2. A yarn control mechanism adapted to cut the ends of strand mate-rialWound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machinewhich comprises:

(a) a carriage with means for mounting the latter on said machine tomove along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising cam movable with said carriage to raise saidbobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable positionthereon, and

(c) means for severing the ends of said strand material which includes arotating belt member engageable with the yarn on said bobbins to effectrotation of the latter.

3. A yarn control mechanism adapted to cut the ends of strand materialwound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machinewhich comprises:

(a) a carriage with means for mounting the latter on said machine tomove along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising cam movable with said carriage to raise saidbobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable positionthereon,

(c) a rotating belt member engageable with the yarn on said bobbins toeffect rotation of the latter, and

(d) means engageable with the ends of said strand material for partingthe latter as said bobbins are caused to rotate during the movement ofsaid carriage.

4. A yarn control mechanism adapted to cut the ends of strand materialwound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machinewhich comprises:

(a) a carriage with means for mounting the latter on said machine tomove along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising cam movable with said carriage to raise saidbobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable positionthereon,

(c) a rotating belt member engageable with the yarn on said bobbins toeffect rotation of the latter, and

(d) cutting blade members engageable with the ends of said strandmaterial for parting the latter as said bobbins are caused to rotateduring the movement of said carriage.

5. The yarn control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cutting meanscomprises a pair of arcuated cutting blades pivotably and yieldablyengageable with said bobbins and adapted to follow the contour of thelatter as said carriage moves thereby.

6, The yarn control mechanism of claim 5 wherein said arcuated cuttingblade members are fixedly positioned relative to each other in opposedrelation with one thereof being superimposed above the other.

'7. The yarn control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said machine includesa means for automatically moving said mechanism into and away fromoperating position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,653,440 9/1953Partington 57-53 2,886,940 5/1959 Urano et al. 57-53 3,116,587 1/1964DuBuis et al. 57-53 3,176,458 4/1965 DuBuis et al. 5753 3,204,397 9/1965Cugini 57-53 FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A YARN CONTROL MECHANISM ADAPTED TO CUT THE ENDS OF STRAND MATERIALWOUND ON BOBBINS DISPOSED ON A ROW OF SPINDLES SUPPORTED ON A MACHINEWHICH COMPRISES: (A) A CARRIAGE WITH MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE LATTER ONSAID MACHINE TO MOVE ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO SAID SPINDLES, (B) ABOBBIN RAISING CAM MOVABLE WITH SAID CARRIAGE TO RAISE SAID BOBBINS FROMA FIXED POSITION ON SAID SPINDLES TO A ROTATABLE POSITION THEREON,